ORANGE, CA — MeriCal, a leading product innovation, private label, and contract supplement manufacturer with more than 60 years of industry experience, announced today that Chief Financial Officer Anna Ricardo has been named CFO of the Year — Private Companies by the Orange County Business Journal at the 19th Annual CFO of the Year Awards.
The awards ceremony was held on May 12, 2025, at the Irvine Marriott, recognizing Orange County’s top financial leaders across 75 nominees from the region’s most dynamic companies. Ricardo was selected as the winner in the Private Companies category.
“This award is a true honor, but it belongs to a much larger group — our PE firm, our CEO, the incredible cross-functional team at MeriCal, and most importantly, our finance and accounting team whose partnership and support make everything possible. More than anything, it’s an acknowledgement of what we’ve accomplished together as a company.” — Anna Ricardo, CFO, MeriCal
Merical’s CEO, Eric Bauer, noted, “Anna’s leadership has been a driving force behind the meaningful progress MeriCal has made as a business. Her ability to bring financial clarity, strategic discipline, and a true partnership mindset to every decision has strengthened our organization from the inside out. This recognition is well deserved, and a reflection of the trajectory we are on as a company.”
About Anna Ricardo
Anna Ricardo brings more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and supplement industries, specializing in manufacturing finance and strategic oversight. Since joining MeriCal, she has been instrumental in driving strategic growth and operational efficiencies across the organization. She holds a B.A. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from California State University, Fullerton.
About MeriCal
MeriCal is a leading product innovation and supplement manufacturer specializing in biotics — including prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and synbiotics — as well as complex VMS formulations. With manufacturing facilities in Orange and Anaheim, California, as well as Ogden, Utah, and a 60+ year operating history, MeriCal partners with brands to deliver science-backed formulations across gummies, capsules, tablets, and advanced powder systems.